In the 3rd Year of Zhengyong, on the sixth of April, a major event occurred in Great Yu.
On his way to Nanyue County, King Tang was attacked by a group of mountain bandits while passing through Niutou Mountain.
After battling with the bandits for an hour, the escorting officers and soldiers were defeated and retreated in disarray, and King Tang was killed!
This incident caused a huge uproar in Great Yu, with almost everyone believing that it was orchestrated by Emperor Zhengyong.
However, this matter was quickly overshadowed by another event.
War was about to break out.
Due to the assassination of King Tang, a mutiny occurred within the Northern Pacification Army stationed in Liangzhou and Binzhou, plunging the entirety of Liangzhou and Binzhou into chaos.
Bordering Great Yu's Liangzhou and Binzhou was Wu Country.
The people of Wu Country were fierce and skilled in mounted archery. Taking advantage of Great Yu's preoccupation with the matter of King Tang and the Northern Pacification Army, the Third Prince of Wu Country personally led his cavalry into Liangzhou, capturing twelve cities in succession.
They plundered countless people, gold, silver, cattle, and sheep.
With the mutiny of the Northern Pacification Army, there were no soldiers left to fight in Liangzhou and Binzhou, allowing the people of Wu Country to pillage at will within Great Yu's territories.
That day, Emperor Zhengyong urgently assembled the forces from Qingzhou, Yunzhou, and Haizhou to go to Liangzhou and Binzhou to suppress the rebellion and resist Wu Country.
None of these events had anything to do with Zheng Yi.
At this time, he was in the training grounds of the Imperial Palace, learning martial arts under Wang Zhongyi.
"This is Yang Shaoyong, a Gold Medal Tributor from the Sacrificial Institute. From now on, you'll learn martial arts from him,"
From behind Wang Zhongyi followed a burly, bright-eyed middle-aged man.
In Zheng Yi's eyes, Yang Shaoyong fully deserved the title of 'Martial Arts Master'.
With sharp eyebrows like a sword, powerful arms, and an extraordinary demeanor.
Yang Shaoyong himself was puzzled; he had been doing well in the government office, but was summoned by this Chief Eunuch, Wang Zhongyi, with instructions to teach someone martial arts.
He originally thought he would be teaching the son of some prince or minister, but he was unexpectedly brought into the Imperial Palace!
Zheng Yi nodded slightly and said, "I'll be in your care in the future, Master Yang."
Yang Shaoyong, still guessing about the situation, quickly responded, "I wouldn't dare... Noble Lady, I'll come to the palace daily to instruct you for an hour. How does that sound?"
The two of them looked toward Wang Zhongyi, who said indifferently, "As long as it doesn't interfere with Your Majesty's affairs... Enter the palace at 1:00 PM daily, and do not wander around carelessly, understand?"
Yang Shaoyong quickly replied, "Yes, Eunuch Wang."
After Wang Zhongyi left, Yang Shaoyong asked, "May I ask what kind of martial arts you have learned before, Noble Lady?"
Zheng Yi shook his head, "I haven't learned any."
"May I check Noble Lady's root bone?"
"You may."
Yang Shaoyong couldn't discern Zheng Yi's identity and could only address him as 'Noble Lady.'
Meanwhile, Zheng Yi couldn't reveal his identity either.
After a few breaths, Yang Shaoyong returned awkwardly.
Inferior root bone, how could one practice martial arts with that?
And he noticed something else.
Zheng Yi was wearing a human skin mask on his face!
Though it was a top-quality mask, it was easy for an experienced Martial Arts Master like him to see through it at a glance.
But as this was an affair of the Royal Family, he dared not inquire further.
After pondering for a few breaths, Yang Shaoyong said, "Noble Lady, Eunuch Wang has ordered me to teach you the martial arts called the Five Spirits Body Refining Technique. I hope you will practice diligently."
"Five Spirits Body Refining Technique?" Zheng Yi's eyes brightened. "What is it about?"
"The Five Spirits refer to the tiger, crane, snake, eagle, and ape, creatures observed for their movements and demeanor, leading to the development of a Martial Arts Cultivation Technique."
"By practicing this technique, one can master five different fist and leg techniques. It also incorporates corresponding breathing techniques and herbal baths to temper the practitioner's physique and build a foundation."
"The ferocity of the tiger, agility of the crane, cunning of the snake, swiftness of the eagle, and brutality of the ape—all are included."
"Moreover, this technique is the most proficient Body Refinement method of the Great Yu Royal Family."
"Almost every dignitary and royal relative learns it."
"I see," Zheng Yi nodded, "Please teach me, Master Yang."
"Yes, Noble Lady."
Yang Shaoyong respectfully replied, then demonstrated, "For beginners in martial arts, leg and lower body training is crucial. Please start with a horse stance for the length of an incense stick."
"Huh?"
"Horse stance."
Yang Shaoyong demonstrated, and Zheng Yi could only follow suit.
Under the blazing sun, the two continued with the teaching and practicing, and soon time flew by.
The next day, practice continued.
Initially, Zheng Yi felt a bit uncomfortable, but realizing it was a matter of survival, he gritted his teeth and persevered.
Horse stance, leg kicking, lock lifting, endurance training.
Initially, Yang Shaoyong didn't teach the Five Spirits Body Refining Technique at all, instead starting with basic martial arts methods.
After training, Zheng Yi would secretly practice push-ups, frog jumps, and jumping jacks in his room.
With a good diet, a maid attending to his herbal bathe at night, his physique grew rapidly.
Ten days later, Yang Shaoyong finally nodded, "Noble Lady, your physique is now well-prepared. Today, I will teach you a true martial arts cultivation technique."
The Five Spirits Body Refining Technique!
"Tiger Fist, focusing mainly on claw techniques, mimicking a tiger's assault and leap, emphasizes ferocity!"
As Yang Shaoyong spoke, he showcased the technique, beginning his demonstration.
In a flash, he moved, with bent waist and hands forming claws, resembling a real tiger.
With chest out and back raised, shoulders sunk, elbows down. The body technique involved inhaling, exhaling, floating, and sinking, power generated from the waist reaching the fingertips.
Like a tiger descending a mountain, the fist wind was intensely powerful and the momentum fierce.
Feeling the wind from the fist, Zheng Yi's eyes were filled with fervor, meticulously remembering every move of Yang Shaoyong.
Subsequently, Zheng Yi began practicing on his own.
Yang Shaoyong occasionally offered guidance.
"Noble Lady, your speed is too slow, Tiger Fist may be called a fist, but focuses predominantly on claw techniques..."
"Noble Lady, your claws should be sharp, your strength is too weak!"
"Noble Lady, your waist and abdominal strength are also too weak, you need to continue the horse stance!"
"Noble Lady..."
That night, after soaking in the herbal bath, Zheng Yi lay limply on the bed.
The day's training was much more strenuous than the previous days.
However, he was mentally very excited, eyes closed, but mentally focused on the Ancient Mirror in his mind.
"I've practiced the Five Spirits Body Refining Technique today, I wonder about the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror..."
Within his consciousness, the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror still floated silently in mid-air without any movement.
"No reaction... Could I have guessed wrong?"
"Or is it that the Five Spirits Body Refining Technique is merely a Body Refining Technique, not an Inner Strength technique?"
"The White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill came from a peculiar source, I can't reveal it, and I can't control it, only obtaining it through dual cultivation."
"No matter what, I'll focus on martial arts for now, it's the only method of self-preservation I can think of!"
For the next half month, Zheng Yi continued practicing Tiger Fist from the Five Spirits Body Refining Technique.
He quickly transitioned from initial unfamiliarity to mastery.
A few days later, Yang Shaoyong came to Zheng Yi, "Noble Lady has become familiar with the Five Spirits Body Refining Technique. Today, I will teach you an Inner Strength technique for health preservation."
"The Eternal Spring Skill."